Minnesota @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) Minnesota 3, Texas 9

The explosive Texas Rangers are overpowering visiting Minnesota and have a chance to notch a four-game sweep of the Twins for the first time since 1987. The Rangers have outscored the Twins 27-9 in the series entering Sunday’s finale and have scored at least eight runs in all three games. Texas is 8-1 against the Twins this season and leads the American League West by six games. Minnesota has lost five straight and 14 of 16 games.

Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland homered in Saturday’s game as the Rangers built a nine-run lead en route to a 9-3 win. Kinsler opened the game with a homer for the fifth time this season and 25th in his career. Moreland hit a 463-foot blast that measured as the third longest in the 19-year history of The Ballpark in Arlington. Minnesota’s Justin Morneau had a 4-for-4 outing that included a homer – the first for the Twins since August 17.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Cole De Vries (2-5, 4.89 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Scott Feldman (6-9, 4.77)

De Vries has lost three straight starts and four decisions overall. Both his victories have come against the Kansas City Royals, the most recent one occurring on June 30. De Vries’ best start of the season came against the Rangers when he blanked them on three hits over seven innings on July 8 while taking a no-decision. He lost to the Oakland Athletics in his last outing when he allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Feldman’s six-game winning streak is a distant memory after he has lost three straight starts. He gave up five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings while losing to the Baltimore Orioles in his last outing. Feldman is 2-1 with a 5.05 ERA in 12 career appearances (four starts) against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota starters have allowed 18 earned runs and 24 hits in just 9 2/3 innings in the series.

2. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre was hitless in four at-bats Saturday after going 13-for-22 with five homers over the previous five games.

3. Twins C Joe Mauer is batting .333 with a homer in 15 career at-bats against Feldman.